The United States wants Britain’s newest aircraft carrier to make a port call in Taiwan to send China a clear message that democratic societies are steadfast in their determination to defend the self-governed island, said Yukan Fuji tabloid newspaper, of the Japan Times group.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Nov. 19 detailed plans to dispatch the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier on a tour of Asia next year. Johnson told the Parliament that the flagship would lead a task force comprising Britain and its allies next year to carry out the Royal Navy’s largest deployment mission in 20 years, covering the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and East Asia.

The U.S. aimed to get HMS Queen Elizabeth to make a call into Taiwan to preempt the Chinese People’s Liberation Army from taking advantage of any turmoil following the U.S. presidential election, Yukan Fuji cited American intelligence officials as saying.

Although Johnson did not disclose details of the deployment, it is believed that the aircraft carrier may take part in a joint military exercise with the U.S. and Japan.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest warship in Royal Navy history. It can carry up to 40 aircraft, including 14 F-35B multirole combat jets and eight helicopters, and transfer four fighter jets a minute to the flight.

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